Dept: Soldier deaths shocking

2009-11-27 18:03

Johannesburg - The defence ministry has expressed shock at the news of eight of its members being killed in an accident in the Free State on Friday morning.

The group killed in the accident, involving three heavy duty trucks and a military minibus between Montrose and Van Reenen on the N3, were members of 1 Medical Battalion Group of the SA Military Health Service, the ministry said in a statement.

Seven other members were injured in the accident. One of them, who was critical, is in a stable condition in a Ladysmith hospital while the six others were taken to a hospital in Bethlehem.

The group was travelling from Pretoria back to their unit in Durban when the accident happened.The ministry wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Funeral arrangements would be announced once confirmed by the next of kin.